HEWITT, Joseph Henry, Rev, M.A. B.D. (1863-1948)
Assembly memorial minute, 1949
The Rev. Joseph Henry Hewitt, M. A., B. D. —Joseph Henry Hewitt was born at Happy Valley, near Ballarat, in 1863. In the early ’seventies his parents moved north towards Warracknabeal, to become pioneers of that district. For some years Joseph Henry Hewitt engaged in rural pursuits with his parents, until he responded to a call to the Christian ministry. He came to Melbourne and studied privately, while working as a carpenter. Upon matriculating he entered Ormond and graduated as Bachelor of Arts from the Melbourne University, thereafter completing exit from Theological Hall.
In 1898 he was ordained within the Congregational Church and was minister of the Congregational Church at Windsor for a short while. During this time, he completed his degrees as Master of Arts and Bachelor of Divinity. Having resigned from the Congregational ministry he sought admission to the Presbyterian Church. This was granted, subject to one year’s probation. In 1900 he was received as a minister in full standing and was inducted into his first charge— Murchison—in 1901. After seven years he was translated to the Mentone and Cheltenham charge in 1908, and to Thornbury on the 23rd February, 1916.
At the end of 1920, he resigned and went to England and Scotland, where he engaged in active Church work. On his returning he was inducted into Wycheproof on the 1st May, 1924. For three or four years of this pastorate, he was clerk of the Mallee Downs Presbytery. He resigned from the active ministry in 1930 and was granted a seat in the Assembly as minister emeritus, within the Presbytery of Melbourne South.
With the outbreak of the second world war, he again became active in ministerial duties, in Victoria, in South Australia and in Tasmania. Under the pressure of advanced years in 1946 he was compelled to make a complete retirement.
An excellent scholastic background in languages, Greek, Latin and Hebrew, as well as in Logic, revealed Joseph Henry Hewitt as scholar and philosopher. For some time he was a lecturer and examiner at the Theological Hall, Ormond.
Mr. Hewitt was one of those quiet and pleasing servants of God, whose faith was deeply grounded in experience and a conviction of seriously considered faith. Simple obedience to his Lord ever inspired him to the service of others.
At the age of 85, he passed away at his home in Mentone, on Tuesday, the 18th May, 1948.
To his two sons, Dr. Alan B. Hewitt, of Koo Wee Rup, and Air ViceMarshall J. E. Hewitt, and to Mrs. Hewitt, the Assembly tenders sincere sympathy.
Gender
- Male